Methodology
Energy yield estimates
DEC 01, 21 | 2 AM · 
FÉLIX PÉREZ · 
MIGUEL ÁNGEL TORRERO
This document describes the methodology we followed to calculate the annual energy yield of a solar PV plant in RatedPower's platform.
The aim of the document is provide you with a comprehensive review and analysis of the methodology, describing in detail the calculations involved in each step of the process.
These models covers simulation of fixed structures and trackers, and mono-face and bifacial photovoltaic modules.
If you're evaluating if RatedPower's software is the right fit for your business, this document will provide you with a solid technical knowledge for engineering assessment.
What's included?
- The general outline of the issues we analysed for computing the annual energy yield is:
- The transposition of the radiation components to the tilted plane.
- Using a library to compute the sun position.
- The sun-tracking algorithm used in single-axis trackers (backtracking).
- Computation of the effects of shadows on the irradiance received by a tilted plane.
- Computation of the irradiance perceived by the back-face, used for bifacial simulations.
- Electrical generation of a photovoltaic module being irradiated, and it’s associated losses.
- Estimating the effect of partial shadows on strings of modules.
- Performance of an electrical inverter and window of operation.
- Electrical losses in a utility-scale photovoltaic plant.
- Learn more about methodology's authors: Félix Pérez, Juan Romero and Miguel Ángel Torrero.